Suggests that the psychotherapist working with families of adolescent drug abuser must work for parental involvement, strengthening of the family group, and increased adolescent responsibility and independence from parents who unwittingly encourage a prolonged symbiotic relationship. (Author/CJ)

Provides an account of an animation film project that was conducted in a public alternative school for teenage drug abusers. Demonstrates how students can plan and shoot a film with a minimum of teacher involvement or direction. (RL)

In recent years considerable attention has been paid to the status of women as drug abusers and as clients in drug treatment programs. A study of drug abusers' characteristics found a significantly higher history of non-medical psychotherapeutic drug use for females than for males; however, males had a higher prevalence of illicit drug use.…

This paper reviews the literature and presents new data on alcohol and drug problems in older individuals. Drug abusers include users of opiates, inadvertent misusers, and deliberate abusers of nonopiates. Two to 10 percent of the elderly are alcoholic, and these are usually individuals beginning alcohol abuse after age 40. (Author)

Issues involved in treating adolescent drug abusers and literature describing abuser personality traits are examined. The Youth Service at Langley Porter Institute and the problems encountered and solutions attempted there are discussed. The importance of residential as opposed to outpatient treatment and honesty in staff-patient relationships is…

Discusses the problems of relapse with alcoholics and other drug abusers from three perspectives: client-related variables, common erroneous beliefs and myths held by professionals regarding relapse, and treatment system problems that may contribute to relapse. Offers proposed solutions and describes a relapse prevention model. (Author/ABB)

Describes the impact of the Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime (TASC) program, designed to identify criminal offenders with drug problems and refer them for treatment. Despite an increase in size and changes in client characteristics, the influx of TASC-referred drug abusers did not decrease program effectiveness. (JAC)

This report examines the incidence of drug abuse and the methods of treatment and prevention of drug abuse used in Southeast Asia. Countries studied include Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Because of Malaysia's intensive effort to eliminate its drug abuse problem, emphasis is placed on this country's treatment and…

Discusses an intervention technique that can be used in working with alcoholics and drug abusers who deny the need for help. The intervention focuses on the family, providing them with drug education and improved communication skills. Defusion, reframing, and positive data are used. The counselor's role is described. (JAC)

A mother reports on her daughter's former drug abuse, the inability of school officials to recognize and deal effectively with drug abusers, possible reasons for this inability, and recent legal decisions that require districts to provide counseling. She concludes by offering suggestions for dealing with problems of abuse. (IW)

This paper reviews the historical metamorphosis of the concept of treatment and emergence of TASC as a federal strategy for effecting a criminal justice-health care interface to deal with drug abusers. Impact of the TASC program is discussed as well as implications for future efforts. (Author)

Compared the effects of extensive group therapy (treatment for drug abusers) on the attitudes of 67 incarcerated young men. Results indicated no significant differences in attitude between the treatment and no-treatment groups, suggesting that group therapy treatment had no rehabilitative advantage over vocational training. (JAC)

Tests the relationship between locus of control and drug abuse and the influence of test instructions and social desirability. Results of research with incarcerated offenders indicated test instructions aimed at heightening social desirability artificially inflated locus of control scores. Found no significant differences between drug abusers and…

The Sensation-Seeking Scale and The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were administered to 30 white, 30 black, and 30 Hispanic male narcotic drug abusers. White subjects scored significantly higher on the five Sensation-Seeking subscales. No significant differences were obtained between ethnic groups on state or trait anxiety. (Author)

Proposes a psychoeducational model of intervention for use with drug abusers. Claims that the model may be particularly helpful during the early stages of intervention in reducing resistance to change since it addresses the eight thinking styles believed to shield the drug "lifestyle" from forces that would otherwise lead to change. (RJM)